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Nutrition and Physical Activity

Kindergarten - Grade 3

Overview

Through programs, policies, and learning opportunities, schools play a key role in establishing positive environments that promote and support healthy practices and behaviors such as regular physical activity and good nutrition (CDC 2017a). Kindergarten through Grade 3 is an opportune time for students to learn how to choose nutritious foods and make physical activity part of their daily lives. Proper nutrition and information on how to make healthy food choices is important for their growth, development, and overall health.

Information and Resources

Team Nutrition

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance for food service, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.

 

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Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12

The Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards-based physical education programs and instruction.

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Curriculum and Lessons

Discover MyPlate - USDA

Discover MyPlate meets Kindergarten education standards for Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Health using the 6 ready-to-go and interactive lessons.

 

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The image features a colorful and playful logo for %22Discover MyPlate%22, which appears to be an educational or informational resource related to nutrition and healthy eating. The logo is composed of various cartoon-style food characters, including fruits, vegetables, and other food items, all with expressive and friendly facial expressions.

Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum - USDA

Serving Up MyPlate is a collection of classroom materials that helps elementary school teachers (Grades 1-6) integrate nutrition education into Math, Science, English Language Arts, and Health.

 

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The image depicts a colorful plate-shaped graphic with sections labeled %22Fruits%22, %22Grains%22, %22Protein%22, and %22Dairy%22, along with a fork and knife, on a pink background.

Dairy Council of California

The Dairy Council of California offers a K-12 nutrition education curriculum as well as games, activities, tip-sheets, and community resources about healthy eating and physical activity.

 

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Dairy Council of California Logo

Center for Ecoliteracy - Nourishing Students: Enrichment Activities for Grades K-5

These fun, flexible, cross-curricular enrichment activities help children learn how fruits and vegetables grow, how they get from the field to the plate, and what makes each unique.

 

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Learn About AG

This is a collection of materials explaining the relationship between agriculture and nutrition education from the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. 

 

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Food Literacy Center

Lessons for food literacy and hands-on cooking with kids. 

 

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Book List

Kindergarten - Grade 3

The image depicts the cover of a children's book titled %22Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z%22 by Lois Ehlert, featuring various colorful fruits and vegetables arranged around the title.

Eating the Alphabet Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z

by Lois Ehlert (1989)

The image features a vibrant display of various vegetables, including carrots, tomatoes, and leafy greens, arranged around the text %22THE VEGETABLES WE EAT%22 by Gail Gibbons, set against a bright yellow background.

The Vegetables We Eat

by Gail Gibbons (2008)

The image depicts a young child surrounded by lush green zucchini plants, with the title %22Zora's Zucchini%22 prominently displayed.

Zora’s Zucchini

by Katherine Pryor

The image features a book cover titled %22I will never NOT ever eat a tomato%22 by Lauren Child, with two cartoon characters, a boy and a girl, prominently displayed in the foreground against a bright red background.

I Will Never, Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola Series)

by Lauren Child (2003)

The book cover features a cartoon illustration of a young boy with red hair and freckles, sitting on a chair and reading a book titled %22Tales for Very Picky Eaters%22 by Josh Schneider. The background depicts a whimsical, colorful scene with various elements such as clouds, a globe, and other objects.

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

by Josh Schneider (2011)

A large, orange lion-like creature stands in the foreground, surrounded by lush, green foliage in the background.

​You Are a Lion! and Other Fun Yoga Poses

by Taeeun Yoo (2012)

The image features a cartoon dog with a large, toothy grin against a bright yellow and red background, with the title %22Stretch%22 prominently displayed.

Stretch

by Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin (2009)

Two children in Tae Kwon Do uniforms practice kicks against a light blue background.

Tae Kwon Do!

by Terry Pierce and Todd Bonita (2006)

The image depicts a bread and jam jar label featuring a cheerful-looking raccoon holding a piece of bread and jam against a colorful background.

Bread and Jam for Frances

by Russell Hobban (2008)

The image depicts a young girl wearing a pink dress with a crown on her head, holding a magic wand and a cupcake, against a pink background with the title %22Pinkalicious%22 prominently displayed.

Pinkalicious

by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann (2006)

The image depicts a colorful and vibrant scene of people from around the world engaged in various cultural activities, with a large pot of food in the foreground and a sun-filled background.

Breakfast Around the World

by Ye-shi Kim (2016)

The image depicts a colorful children's book cover featuring a young child in a red hat and a large orange dinosaur-like creature against a bright blue sky with a sun.

What’s This?

by Caroline Mockford (2000)

The image depicts a whimsical scene featuring a large, furry creature resembling a bear or other mammal sitting on a chair, surrounded by various vegetables and a sign that reads %22Tops & Bottoms%22.

Tops and Bottoms

by Janet Stevens (1995)

Classroom Activities

Rows of yellow chairs and desks in a colorful, organized classroom setting.
  • Participate in ReThink Your Drink activities to help students learn about healthy beverage choices. 
  • Make a class collage of healthy breakfast foods.

Partnerships

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Partnering with the Family

  • Invite parents, guardians, and caretakers to enjoy simple healthy recipes created by students with the assistance of the teacher.
  • Encourage parents, guardians, and caretakers to share family recipes and foods served at celebrations.
  • Invite parents, guardians, and caretakers to participate in physical activity with their students at school.
  • Create a class cookbook to share with families.
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Partnering with your School

  • Visit the school cafeteria to see and learn about healthy breakfast and lunches.
  • Invite the cafeteria manager to speak to students about healthy eating and tasty foods offered at school.
  • Consider starting a community garden or gardening area at your school.
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Partnering with your Community

  • Visit a local farm, farmers market, or community garden in your area. 
  • Identify shared spaces for physical activity like parks in the community. 
  • Start a 'community board' in your classroom to post nutrition and physical activity events happening in the community (e.g. walk/runs, food fairs, cooking classes, bike rides, fitness tips, healthy recipes).